Compact laser device and method for hair removal

a laser device and compact technology, applied in the field of laser devices and hair removal, can solve the problems of not being able to optimize for different skin types or hair color, and not being able to meet the needs of patients

US20070100401A1Inactive Publication Date: 2007-05-03NEW VISION
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2007-05-03
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A device for hair removal includes the use of infrared laser having wavelength of about 0.7 to 1.1 microns, energy per pulse of about 0.5 to 5.0 J on the skin surface and operated at about 1.0 to 5.0 Hz. The treated area includes one or more than one of the following: the hair shaft, root, hair follicle, papilla, blood vessels feeding the papilla, or blood vessels in the papilla. The delivery means includes an optical fiber or fiber bundle which delivers said laser beam to said treated skin, where the optical fibers is further connected to a hand piece containing the laser unit and optics. The laser beam is generated from a laser unit consisting of about 1 to 5 diode arrays having the same wavelength at about 0.7 to 1.1 microns, or a combination of 2 to 3 different wavelengths selected from the ranges of about 700 to 760 nm, 780 to 820 nm, 900 to 930 nm, or 970 to 990 nm.
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Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to laser device and method for hair removal. More particularly, it relates to systems of using a compact diode laser device at low power with multiple wavelength output for all skin type and hair color.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] Different lasers have been disclosed for hair removal since the first low energy normal mode ruby (at 694 nm) and Nd:YAG (at 1064 nm) lasers were disclosed in 1967, U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,919. These prior arts include the earlier approaches using a pulsed, or Q-switched ruby laser disclosed in 1990 by Zaim in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,192; high energy normal mode ruby laser disclosed in 1997 by Anderson et. al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,568; and the more recent patents of Anderson et. al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,884, 6,183,773), Tankovick (U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,948). Alexandrite laser (at 755 nm) was proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,346 (of Waldman et al); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,871,...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0020] The structure of hair is known as follows. It comprises of a shaft and a root which are enclosed by follicle. Located at the lower end of follicle is the papilla which is fed by blood vessels and provides nourishment to root. The main component of hair of all colors is the protein keratin. Therefore, in order to effectively and permanently prevent re-growth of hair, the papilla, blood vessels, hair shaft, or a combination of them, must be significantly damaged. Prior arts using ruby laser (at 694 nm) has good penetration due to low melanin absorption, however, it has poor blood (or oxy-hemoglobin) absorption. Prior arts using pulsed dye lasers (at 577 to 585 nm) are well absorbed by hemoglobin (Hb or HbO), but also have very high melanin absorption which prevents its energy deep into the hair papilla, which is about 3 to 10 mm, mostly 4 to 6 mm, skin depth.

[0021] Prior arts using Alexandrite (at about 755 nm) has a peak Hb absorption and relatively low (comparing to ruby las...